A [DIY biohacker][http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/12/transcending-the-human-diy-style/] in England, Lepht Anonym, has been experimenting in self-surgury in their (I use ‘they’ in the singular sense, as I have noted that they use gender neutral pronouns in reference to themself on [their blog][http://sapiensanonym.blogspot.com/]) own kitchen. Anonym has successfully implanted small metal plates, made of neodymium and encapsulated in gold and silicon, in nine of their ten fingers, in order to sense electromagnetic currents. They call themselves a “scrapheap transhumanist” give recommendations on bioproofing materials, used to encase the implants to prevent chemical reactions like rusting from occurring subcutaneously, advocating the use of a silicon gel, Sugru, but stating that hot-gun glue works well, too.

Lepht’s current project is based on [Sensebridge’s][http://sensebridge.net/] [Northpaw project][http://sensebridge.net/projects/northpaw/], a wearable device that provides vibration to give information on the direction of Earth’s magnetic north. Similarly, my friends over at Portland [Research Club][http://researchclub.posterous.com/] are working on a wearable system of vibrating sensors which take GPS information from the user’s Smartphone to provide the wearer with an extra-sensory perception of their friends’ locations. Lepht Anonym’s project will be to implant an electronic compass attached to neural-grade electrodes near their left knee. They’re calling the project Southpaw.

I find Lepht’s creativity, curiosity, and fearlessness absolutely inspiring. Instead of the usual (although still admirable) idealistic theories of transhumanists on the future of converging technologies and their biological applications, Lepht has taken a more practical approach: start with what you have, and work from there. “The existing transhumanist movement is lame. It’s nano everything. It’s just ideas,” she says. “Anyone can do this. This is kitchen stuff.” Lepht, you are amazing, and I hope everything works well in your Southpaw project and all your future endeavours. The world needs more (trans)humans like you!